Latino Leaders Cellar by Jorge Ferraez

FOR THIS SEASON of big family dinners, turkey, stuffing and all the sweet and salty dishes, one of my best options is a middle priced ($40-$45) Pinot Noir that has impressed me every time I have tryed it: MARTINELLI “BELLA VIGNA” Sonoma Coast 2018; Wild cherry and spiced notes, with currant, violet and plum aromas. It sits on the glass with rosy-ruby colors and after a swirl it shows its well positioned medium body and more plum, raspberry, vanilla and chocolate notes. It is Round, silky, succulent and delicious!

•SHAFER VINEYARDS HILLSIDE SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015: This is definitively a Cult Cab from California with fantastic concentration, voluptuous and bold notes of berries, chocolate and tobacco. It will always benefit from decanting up to 12 hours in advance. That way it will show it spectacular muscle, amplitude and complexity showing also powerful waves of dark fruit, cocoa, herbs and spice. Part of the secret for this vineyard is that it lays on a hillside; exposed to the climate; sun, wind, water, etc. This marks the vineyard that much that wine produced from it has a unique style, that cannot be reproduced anywhere else. A beautiful wine!!

•I tried this one with a heavy sauced pasta, based on short rib and mushrooms. It was a fantastic experience, it had been long since I had a Brunello di Montalcino; but this Campogiovanni 2012 get me back on them: Absolutely fantastic with fruit, sweet tannins, earthy notes and a delicate but still bold character. It shows plum, cherry and licorice in a well integrated and long and velvety taste. I loved it that much that I started stacking up on Brunellos for the holidays!

•On those mild weather Friday nights, just before dinner while we set table and family to get together, I like to sip a nice, fresh and citrusy Chablis. I have found that the 1er Cru’s are a little more complex and have longer maturation capacity, however this 2018 from Seguinot-Bordet Cru Vaillons I got on a grocery store was absolutely fantastic showing a great balance with fresh citric and flowery notes. After a few sips it was bright and fruity with medium body and a lot of lemmony-orangy hints. What a rich, perfumed and mineral wine with an excellent balance in acidity and body.